Blues open to backroom changes

The new Blues boss was appointed last Thursday and was told throughout the interview process that both Guy Whittingham and Stuart Gray – who took temporary charge of the first team in the wake of Steve Cotterill’s departure – would be remaining on the backroom staff.

Appleton has made it clear he is perfectly happy with that arrangement and is not looking to appoint an assistant manager.

But Blues chief executive Lampitt believes Pompey could yet add to their coaching ranks if Appleton sees a gap in the set-up.

Lampitt said: ‘Our view on that is that we would always consider bringing people in to the club where we think we are short or we have a gap that we need to fill with someone with extra skills.

‘I don’t write off that possibility and I don’t say “we will never employ anyone else”. But it has to be on merit.

‘We have been very clear and Michael understands fully. This was about getting in the right man to become manager and getting someone who we thought would fit well with the existing team and the existing infrastructure.

‘We didn’t want wholesale change.’

Lampitt was also quick to praise both Whittingham and Gray for their efforts before and after Cotterill’s departure.

He said: ‘Guy and Stuart have done a fantastic job for us over the past six games but their service to the club has been for a longer period than just that.

‘They are an integral part of our backroom staff and we want them to continue to do that to support Michael.’